Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc.

Jesse Bailey Jr., 1925–2013

Jesse V. Bailey Jr., 88, Birmingham, Ala., died April 23, 2013. A L, age 88, died April 23rd 2013. A graduate of University of West Alabama, he served in the U.S. Air Force in WWII. Bailey, a freethinker, was a founding member of the Alabama Freethought Association and a member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. He’s survived by his daughter, Anita, several other relatives and countless friends.

According to Alice Cleveland, AFA historian, Jesse served at the Women’s Clinic, was an avid letter writer and supported the freethought cause and abortion rights. Military services with honors were held in the Alabama National Cemetery.

At the memorial, Susan Laney, a Presbyterian director of adult ministries and friend of Anita Bailey, spoke on Jesse’s behalf: “He did not believe in an afterlife or desire one. What could be more dreadful, where would we go, what would we do? Could we sleep late on the weekends?”